Alert archive / Michigan / Beach Hazards Statements in 2026

Beach Hazards Statement 1, NWS Grand Rapids, MI

May 20, 2026Allegan County, Ottawa County, Van Buren County, Michigan

NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued this beach hazards statement at May 20, 2026, 4:18 AM EDT for Allegan County, Ottawa County, Van Buren County, Michigan. It took effect at May 20, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 13 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 20, 2026, 4:18 AM EDT (08:18 UTC)
In effect from
May 20, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT
Expired
May 21, 2026, 2:00 AM EDT
In force
13 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Rapids, MI

Counties Allegan County, MI, Ottawa County, MI, Van Buren County, MI

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:19 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Detroit, MI (KDTX), launched 00:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 221 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2026-05-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 81 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Detroit, MI at 00:00Z on 2026-05-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 68 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
81 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-21 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1318 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
68 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

576 
WHUS43 KGRR 200818
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
418 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

MIZ056-064-071-201630-
/O.NEW.KGRR.BH.S.0001.260520T1700Z-260521T0600Z/
Ottawa-Allegan-Van Buren-
418 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous 
  swimming conditions expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by 
  waves.

* WHERE...Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren counties.

* WHEN...From 1 PM EDT this afternoon through late tonight.

* IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water 
  and high waves can sweep people off piers.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Waves will be on the increase this
  afternoon as winds pick up out of the north. For a time this
  afternoon and evening winds will reach the 15 to 25 mph range.
  Waves will build to 3 to 5 feet, peaking around 600 pm. North
  sides of north piers will have the most dangerous conditions
  today including Holland State Park and North Beach in South 
  Haven.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$

DUKE
3 follow-up statements
534 
WHUS43 KGRR 201721
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
121 PM EDT Wed May 20 2026

MIZ056-064-071-210130-
/O.CON.KGRR.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T0600Z/
Ottawa-Allegan-Van Buren-
121 PM EDT Wed May 20 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT...

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous 
  swimming conditions expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by 
  waves.

* WHERE...Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren counties.

* WHEN...Through late tonight.

* IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water 
  and high waves can sweep people off piers.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Waves will be on the increase this
  afternoon as winds pick up out of the north. For a time this
  afternoon and evening winds will reach the 15 to 25 mph range.
  Waves will build to 3 to 5 feet, peaking around 600 pm. North
  sides of north piers will have the most dangerous conditions
  today including Holland State Park and North Beach in South 
  Haven.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$
296 
WHUS43 KGRR 210240
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
1040 PM EDT Wed May 20 2026

MIZ056-064-071-210600-
/O.CON.KGRR.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T0600Z/
Ottawa-Allegan-Van Buren-
1040 PM EDT Wed May 20 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT
THURSDAY...

* WHAT...High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous 
  swimming conditions expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by 
  waves.

* WHERE...Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren counties.

* WHEN...Through late tonight.

* IMPACTS...Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water
  and high waves can sweep people off piers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions
and do not venture out on piers. Please check with your local
authorities on potential beach closures.

&&

$$
047 
WHUS43 KGRR 210602
CFWGRR

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
202 AM EDT Thu May 21 2026

MIZ056-064-071-210715-
/O.EXP.KGRR.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260521T0600Z/
Ottawa-Allegan-Van Buren-
202 AM EDT Thu May 21 2026

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT HAS EXPIRED...

Conditions have improved across the area as winds and waves have
come down considerably.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this beach hazards statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Grand Rapids, MI wrote its last area forecast discussion before this beach hazards statement went out at May 20, 3:59 AM EDT, 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Dry weather through Thursday night with frost possible tonight
  • Rain back in the forecast Friday into the weekend
  • Warmer and mainly dry early next week
Area forecast discussion, May 20, 3:59 AM EDT, 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
359 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dry weather through Thursday night with frost possible tonight

- Rain back in the forecast Friday into the weekend

- Warmer and mainly dry early next week

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 358 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

- Dry weather through Thursday night with frost possible tonight

Surface high pressure will bring dry weather today through
Thursday night. Clouds will gradually erode today with partly
cloudy skies expected tonight. We may need a Frost Advisory
tonight across Central Lower Michigan, but after coordination with
other offices decided to hold off on the advisory/warning decision
until later today as there may be a good amount of high clouds
around yet which would affect low temperatures. In addition, there
is a fair amount of wind in the lowest 2,000 feet. A partly
cloudy day is expected on Thursday with mid and high clouds
streaming in from the west. It will be cooler than normal today
and Thursday with highs in the 50s and 60s today warming to the
60s on Thursday. Normal highs are around 70.

- Rain back in the forecast Friday into the weekend

Rain returns to the forecast on Friday and especially for Friday
night and Saturday. A shortwave trough aloft lifts from the
Southern Plains states into the Great Lakes for Friday night and
Saturday with an upper trough then swinging through on Sunday. A
healthy surge of moisture comes in on a low level jet Friday night
and Saturday which is when we should have the highest
concentration of showers and thunderstorms. This time frame will
essentially be affected by a warm front of sorts with a cold front
moving through on Sunday. Bottom line is the weather will be a bit
unsettled during this time.

- Warmer and mainly dry early next week

Warmer and drier weather is expected early next week with zonal
flow aloft trending towards ridging. At the surface, ridging will
be in place. High temperatures will be warming into the 70s to
near 80 degrees.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 159 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

A cold front has progressed through all of the TAF sites as we
approach 06z with west to northwest winds now prevailing. Main
post frontal concern is the extent of MVFR ceilings that may
develop the remainder of the night. At this point, JXN is the only
TAF site with a MVFR ceiling. We do think that there will be some
expansion of the MVFR ceilings early this morning especially south
and east of GRR. These lower ceilings may persist through the
morning hours. This afternoon and evening VFR weather is expected.
Northwest winds at 5-15 knots will veer to the north and
northeast this afternoon and this evening.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 358 AM EDT Wed May 20 2026

Our typical advancing high scenario presents itself today on the
first day of the Surf Zone Forecast season. A high building into
the Great Lakes from the northwest winds increase northerly winds
down the shoreline through an enhanced pressure gradient along the
lakeshore. The combination of the high building in and thermal
affects (troughing developing over the Lower Peninsula) due to a
thinning of the low clouds produces stronger winds down the
shoreline. The winds can be seen in the HRRR guidance. While we
are not expecting many swimmers today (buoy water temps are in the
lower 50s) we will still issue a Beach Hazard Statement as the
season has begun. A corresponding Small Craft Advisory will be in
effect as well, both running from 100pm into tonight. Winds go
offshore late tonight and into Thursday which will lead to
improving conditions.

&&

.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Beach Hazards Statement from 1 PM EDT this afternoon through
     late tonight for MIZ056-064-071.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 2 AM EDT
     Thursday for LMZ844>846.

&&

DISCUSSION...Duke
AVIATION...Duke
MARINE...Duke

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Rapids, MI issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 4:14 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryGRR22 hr
May 20, 1:33 PM EDTFrost AdvisoryGRRClare, Isabella, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo and 2 more19 hr

Nearby

Beach Hazards Statements in Michigan, 2026Every beach hazards statement in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.